abrasion | area where skin or other tissue is scraped away
|
absorption | the way a drug or other substance enters the body
|
acoumeter | tool used to measure hearing
|
acute | lasting a short time but often causing a serious problem
|
adhesion | tissue stuck together
|
adrenal gland | gland found over each kidney
|
adverse effect | side effect
|
albuminuria | protein in the urine
|
allergy | oversensitivity to a substance
|
amniocentesis | removal of some of the waters from around an unborn baby for laboratory testing
|
analgesic | drug used to control pain
|
anemia | decreased number of red blood cells
|
anesthesia | loss of sensation or feeling
|
anesthetic | drug is used to produce loss of pain sensation
|
angioplasty | surgery to open up a narrow blood vessel
|
anoxia | no oxygen
|
antacid | drug used to decrease acid in the stomach
|
antibiotic | drug used to stop or slow down the growth of germs
|
antibody | type of protein that helps protect the body against foreign matter, such as bacteria and viruses
|
antihistamine | drug used to treat allergic reactions
|
antiseptic | substance used to stop or slow down the growth of germs
|
aphasia | not able to speak or write and not able to understand spoken or written words
|
artery | type of blood vessel that carries blood and oxygen from the heart to the rest of the body
|
arthritis | inflammation of one or more joints
|
asphyxia | suffocation
|
assay | lab test
|
atrophy | wasting away, or decrease in size, of a body organ
|
audiogram | report of a hearing test
|
audiology | the study of hearing
|
audiometer | tool used to measure hearing
|
bacteria | types of germs
|
benign | not malignant, usually without serious consequences
|
beta blocker | drug used to slow down the heart
|
bilateral | having to do with both sides of the body
|
biopsy | removal of tissue so it can be looked at under a microscope
|
bolus | an amount given all at once
|
bone marrow | soft tissue inside bones that makes blood cells
|
bronchitis | inflammation of the bronchi
|
bronchus | tube that carries air from the windpipe to the lungs
|
bulimia | eating disorder in which a person cannot stop eating and often vomits to make room for more food
|
calcipenia | low in calcium
|
cancer radiotherapy | treatment of cancer using X rays
|
capillary | tiny blood vessel
|
carcinogenic | causing cancer
|
cardiac | having to do with the heart
|
carpal bones | wrist bones
|
cataract | clouding of the lens of the eye
|
catheter | flexible, tube-like tool used to take fluids out of or put fluids into the body
|
cephalalgia | headache
|
cerebellum | the part of the brain that controls the movement of the muscles and helps maintain balance
|
chemotherapy | treatment of disease using drugs
|
chloasma | tumor arising from the skin and other organs
|
chronic | lasting a long time
|
clavicle | collarbone
|
clinical trial | an experiment with patients
|
contraindications | medical reasons that prevent a person from using a certain drug or treatment
|
controlled trial | study in which the experimental procedures are compared to a standard (accepted) treatment or procedure
|
contusion | bruise
|
cornea | clear tissue covering the front part of the eye
|
culture | test for infection, or organisms that could cause infection
|
cumulation | increased action of a drug when given over a period of time
|
cytoid | like a cell
|
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) | material that makes up the genes
|
depressant | drug that slows down the action of the central nervous system
|
double-blind trial | test or experiment in which neither investigators nor subjects know which drug the subject is receiving
|
duct | tube that carries a body fluid
|
dysplasia | abnormal cells
|
edema | increased fluid
|
efficacy | effectiveness
|
electrocardiogram (ECG) | picture of the electrical action of the heart
|
electroencephalogram (EEG) | picture of brain wave activity
|
embolus | blood clot
|
emesis | vomiting
|
endorphin | substance made by the body to stop pain
|
epidermal | having to do with the outer layer of skin
|
epidermis | outer layer of skin
|
esophagus | tube that goes form the throat to the stomach
|
extravasate | to leak outside of a blood vessel
|
glucose | type of sugar found in the blood
|
gynecologist | doctor who treats disorders of the sex organs of women
|
gynecology | the study of the reproductive system of women
|
hematologist | doctor who treats blood disorders
|
hematoma | a
bruise, a black-and-blue mark
|
heparin lock | needle placed in the arm with blood thinner to keep the blood from clotting
|
hyperopia | farsightedness
|
hypertension | high blood pressure
|
hypodermic | under the skin
|
hypoglycemia | not enough sugar in the blood
|
hypotension | low blood pressure
|
hypothermia | low body temperature
|
idiosyncrasy | rare side effect of a drug; unusual reaction of a person to a drug
|
inflammation | swelling, redness, and pain in tissues caused by injury or damage
|
influenza | the flu
|
intramuscular (IM) injection | injection of a substance into a muscle (e.g., upper arm or backside)
|
intravenous (IV) injection | injection of a substance into a vein
|
lactating | making milk
|
lateral | toward or having to do with the side of the body
|
lesion | abnormal area of tissue, such as a wound, sore, rash, or boil
|
libido | sexual desire
|
lipid | fat
|
lymphoma | cancerous growth made up of lymph tissue
|
macro- | describes something that is large or long
|
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) | the use of magnetic waves to look at soft tissues of the body
|
mastectomy | surgery to remove a breast
|
micro- | describes something that is small or delicate
|
monitor | check on, keep track of, watch carefully
|
morbidity | undesired result or complication
|
mortality | death or death rate
|
mucoid | slimy
|
myopia | nearsightedness
|
nasogastric tube | tube that goes through the nose and into the stomach
|
necrosis | death of tissue or skin
|
neurologist | doctor who treats disorders of the central nervous system and nerves
|
neurosis | mental and emotional disorder
|
nyctalopia | difficulty seeing at night
|
oncology | the study of cancer
|
ophthalmologist | doctor who treats eye disorders
|
oral administration | giving a drug by mouth
|
orthodontist | dentist who treats teeth and jaw disorders
|
orthopedist | doctor who treats bone and joint disorders
|
otologist | doctor who treats disorders of the ear
|
otorhinolaryngologist | doctor who treats disorders of the ear, nose, and throat
|
otoscope | tool used to look into the ear
|
Pap test | microscope test used to detect virus infection of the cervix or cancer of the vagina, cervix, or lining of the uterus
|
pathogenic | causing disease
|
percutaneous | through the skin
|
phalanx | finger or toe bone
|
pharynx | throat
|
placebo | a pretend treatment (with no drug in it) that is compared in a clinical trial with a drug to test if the drug has a real effect
|
podiatrist | foot doctor
|
polydipsia | too much thirst
|
postpartum | after childbirth
|
potentiation | increase in drug action from using two drugs together instead of using each drug alone
|
PRN | as needed
|
proctologist | doctor who treats disorders of the rectum and anus
|
prognosis | forecast of the probable outcome of a disease
|
prosthesis | artificial body part
|
protocol | plan of study
|
proximal | nearest
|
pruritus | itchiness
|
psychologist | doctor who treats disorders of the mind, thought, and behavior
|
psychosis | severe mental disorder; craziness
|
psychosomatic | having a connection between the mind and physical symptoms
|
pulmonary neoplasm | lung tumor
|
random | by chance, like the flip of a coin
|
relapse | the return of a disease
|
renal | having to do with the kidney
|
retrospective | looking back over past experience
|
scapula | shoulder blade
|
serum | clear liquid part of blood
|
shunt | artificial or natural channel running between two other channels
|
single-blind trial | test or experiment in which the person giving treatment, but not the patient, knows which treatment the patient is receiving
|
sleep apnea | breathing problems while sleeping
|
somatic | having to do with the body
|
sternum | breastbone
|
subcutaneous (SC) | under the skin
|
sublingual | under the tongue
|
syndrome | set of signs that happen at the same time in the body
|
thorax | the chest
|
titration | slow increase in drug dosage, guided by patient's responses
|
tolerance | decrease in response to a fixed dosage of drug; over time, higher and higher doses of a drug are needed to get the desired effect
|
topical application | giving a medication by putting it directly on the skin
|
toxicity | any harmful effect of a drug or poison
|
trachea | windpipe
|
tranquilizer | drug used to control anxiety
|
transdermal | through the skin
|
urologist | doctor who treats disorders of the urinary tract of men and women
|